Chapter 14: A Deal Sealed in Potions

Jeyron looked at Ethan.

He was someone with such astonishing insight that he could uncover secrets in an instant, the moment they faced each other.

And as if that wasn’t enough, he immediately tossed out a new proposal, poking at Jeyron’s ambitions.

‘I’ve been caught.’

He was already so curious about what that arrogant man would offer that he could hardly contain himself—he’d been completely drawn in.

A sly smile spread across his face.

“What’s the content of this deal?”

“The production methods for goods that can be made at a very low cost and sold for at least five times the profit.”

Jeyron’s eyelids trembled.

If such a production method truly existed, it would be worth buying even for a fortune.

‘Of course, only if those goods had sustainable marketability and competitiveness.’

‘If I could just get my hands on such a method…’

Right now, he needed results so certain that no one in his family could refute them.

Only then, when he returned to the family, could he not just claim the position of Young Lord, but also seize real power.

In that sense, the Young Duke’s proposal was impossible to resist.

“Do you really possess such production methods?”

“Of course.”

When the Dragonkin invaded.

In that moment when humanity stood at the brink of extinction, everything was shared—from precious secret techniques to methods for crafting items with special properties.

The reason was simple.

It was to survive.

Among the items that became widely known back then, Ethan was well aware of the famous ones. The ‘Thunderstone,’ which could emit lightning after a simple process.

The ‘Herb Potion,’ made by mixing seven herbs with a bit of healing potion.

The ‘Vitality Juice,’ crafted by blending holy water that suppressed monster blood and demonic energy with several medicinal ingredients.

And finally, the ‘Rapid Mana Recovery Potion.’

These four were the quintessential items that humanity used to the very end before its collapse.

The ingredients were easy to obtain, the crafting process wasn’t complicated, and with just a small investment and a bit of effort, you could achieve great effects.

Items with similar effects were at least ten times more expensive than those, so in terms of utility, there was simply no comparison.

‘It’s about time to start sharing them.’

Even if he reclaimed his family, that wouldn’t be the end.

Restoring a family that had been shaken for so long would require an enormous amount of money.

To prepare for that, he had to move quickly starting now.

‘I’ll start with the Herb Potion.’

It wouldn’t be good if the market changed too suddenly, so for now, he planned to release just this item to the world.

“Young Duke, I have one question. Why are you offering such goods to me? There are plenty of other merchant families……”

“Because the Marquis’ family is trustworthy.”

“Is it because of what happened during the Dragonkin War fifteen years ago?”

Ethan nodded.

He had discovered something interesting while reading the history books.

During the Dragonkin War fifteen years ago, the Marquis’ family had donated their entire fortune, just as in his previous life.

If the Ducal House had shed blood, the merchant Marquis’ family had spilled gold, no less valuable than blood.

And they had done it not once, but twice—both in his previous life and this one.

‘It’s a family with more than enough credibility.’

In his previous life, while the ten branch families had eventually betrayed him despite their obsequiousness, the Marquis’ family seemed far more reliable.

“I hear the Marquis’ family hasn’t been the same since fifteen years ago. Other merchant families are rising rapidly as well.”

“That’s true.”

After the family’s wealth was nearly depleted by the war, their dominance over the market weakened considerably.

Naturally, they could no longer display the same prosperity as before.

To put it bluntly, this was a time when they were struggling to reclaim their former glory.

“Our Ducal House is no different. If anything, our situation is worse. The branch families don’t even know their place and are aiming for my seat.”

“About seven months left, isn’t it? Before I inherit the position of head, I plan to sweep away all those parasites.”

“Hah.”

Not only had his mana hole been shattered, but he had barely awakened from a ten-year coma.

For someone like that, such words were incredibly bold.

Yet, it didn’t sound like an empty boast. The force in his voice was that heavy and earnest.

“In that process, I’d like the Marquis’ family to become the solid financial backing of the Ducal House.”

It was not a simple request.

‘The Ducal House, huh.’

When the Dragonkin appeared, it wasn’t only the Ducal House that had shed blood.

The Seven Houses of the Kingdom.

The seven most renowned and powerful families in the Kingdom of Heidern had also bled.

Of course, none suffered losses as great as the Ducal House.

Except for the Ducal House, the other seven families only sent minimal reinforcements instead of their full strength.

The Dragonkin, who once plunged the continent into fear. It was indeed the Ardan Ducal House that stood against them head-on.

As a result, they earned the honorable title of ‘Guardian of the Kingdom,’ were lauded as a family of great heroes, and even received the incredible privilege of immunity from the former king.

It was an honor and right so great that even the king of the time felt threatened.

Rumor had it that the only reason the branch families could devour the Ducal House was because of the king’s tacit approval and the subtle support of the Kingdom’s Seven Houses.

In the end, it meant that all the most successful families in the kingdom viewed the Ducal House with disdain.

Naturally, Ethan’s proposal was a heavy burden. To join hands with him meant not only being shunned by the current king, but also by the Seven Houses.

‘Join hands?’

He was frantically calculating the gains and losses of such an alliance when Ethan handed him an item.

“Is this a potion?”

“That’s right. Excuse me for a moment.”

Ethan pulled out a small dagger and slashed his own arm.

Blood welled up thickly.

“Young Duke?!”

“Try pouring it on.”

Jeyron hurriedly opened the potion’s lid. A strong herbal scent wafted out. When he poured it over the wound, it bubbled and the injury healed rapidly.

“With this much effect, it could be called a low-grade potion.”

“With a single low-grade potion, you can make ten of these.”

“Don’t tell me the ingredients are just a potion mixed with several herbs?”

“That’s right. Everything must be precisely calculated, from the mixing ratio to the aging time.”

Jeyron swallowed hard.

“Are the herbs used expensive?”

“If they were, I wouldn’t have said you could make five times the profit.”

Ethan replied with a calm gaze.

“This is your only chance to choose, Young Lord. So think carefully.”

The deliberation didn’t last long.

“How many such products do you know of?”

“Quite a few.”

“Will you supply them exclusively to our family?”

“Of course.”

Growing wealth was not the job of a knight like Ethan, but of a merchant with an eye for the market.

That was exactly why he was passing on these goods.

He was too busy growing stronger to take on business as well.

“I accept your offer.”

“Bold, aren’t you?”

“I’m a man of action when it counts.”

Anyway, if things continued as they were, the Marquis’ family would never recover its former glory. At best, the limit would be not falling any further.

‘Rather than watch it collapse, I’ll restore it in my generation.’

Jeyron resolved firmly.

Soon after, Jeyron pulled a contract from his coat.

“Let’s negotiate the terms.”

Ethan and Jeyron discussed the clauses at length.

They settled on a rough outline.

First, the Misas Company would have exclusive supply rights for one year.

For Jeyron to seize real power when he became Young Lord, the sales performance of the Misas Company was crucial.

The agreement was that the moment the independent Jeyron returned to the family, they would use the Besos Marquis’ family’s sales network.

Profits would be split exactly fifty-fifty from net income.

After drawing up the contract, Ethan immediately shared the recipe for the Herb Potion.

“…So, if you just use these seven herbs and let it mature for two days, you get the potion from before?”

“That’s right.”

“Understood.”

“Sell as much as you can, Young Lord. The more you sell, the sooner you’ll get new recipes.”

“Haha. I’ll do my best.”

“If you need to contact me, just pass the message to the attendant you saw earlier.”

“I’ll do that.”

The two shook hands.

After the deal with Jeyron was done,

Ethan fell into thought.

He had originally planned for it to take about four months to bring down the Baron’s family.

‘Now, even that feels too long.’

Rorotia, the Fire Lord.

The meeting with the Spirit Lord had been decisive. The impurities that had filled his vast bloodline were washed away, his body became even more attuned to Fire Mastery, and the Essence of Fire blazed hotter than ever before.

Wrist, arm, shoulder.

He checked the three spots where he had planted the Essence of Fire.

The shoulder was the spot he had finished on his way back from the mountain range.

‘Now eight spots.’

As the planting progressed, it became much easier to embed the Essence of Fire in the remaining areas.

His body was becoming more accustomed to mana and the energy of fire.

‘Once I finish planting all eleven spots…’

He planned to enlarge the Essence of Fire and begin the process of circulation.

‘Two months should be enough.’

The time needed to reach the circulation process was about two months.

He summoned Hans.

“You called for me?”

Ethan silently handed him a sheet of paper. Hans’ eyes widened when he saw it.

“This is… Is this the fealty contract between the Ducal House and the ten branch families?”

“That’s right.”

The paper he handed over was filled with all kinds of clauses.

From the maximum tax rate the vassal families had to pay, to the number of private soldiers they could maintain, to the exact amount of taxes owed to the Ducal House.

Hans’ eyes sparkled.

Why had Ethan given this to him now?

It was obvious.

The Kargas Baron’s family.

They were one of the vassal families who had received their title through the Ducal House.

He was undoubtedly being told to find out exactly which terms of the fealty contract the Baron’s family was violating.

‘So, it’s almost time to draw the sword.’

A bloody purge.

It felt like it wouldn’t be long now.

“If you give me just three days, I’ll find out everything there is to know about the Baron’s family.”

Fortunately, he had the operating funds Ethan had given him. To find out details like the exact number of private soldiers, it was best to hire an intelligence group.

With enough money, those people could even tell you how many moles Baron Helmut had on his body.

Ethan nodded.

“Let’s hear what you know about the Baron.”

“Understood.”

Hans began to recite everything known about him, from start to finish.

‘His personality is unchanged.’

Cunning and thoroughly self-preserving—just like in the past.

The first attack had to be perfect. Only then would the other nine families realize that they were not to be underestimated.

Memory alteration orb.

He had obtained an important piece of evidence, but it wasn’t quite enough to utterly ruin the Baron.

To not only drive him to the very edge of hell, but also behead him on the spot…

‘The more evidence, the better.’

Violating the terms of the fealty contract would be a perfect excuse.

A sly fox hiding in its den.

Now, it was time to drag that fox out.